John Caldwell, general manager for the Arizona division of Vision Produce, the No. 1 importer of limes in Arizona, said he’s never seen anything like it.

“We’re experiencing an unprecedented time in lime supply over the last 50 years,” Caldwell said.

Colin Fain, the CEO of Agronometrics, a startup that analyzes agricultural data, said the spread of citrus greening disease in Mexico is contributing to the high lime prices. The disease, spread by a fly-like insect called the Asian citrus psyllid, causes misshapen fruit that doesn’t ripen properly.

“Unfortunately there’s not a whole lot that can be done. I mean, most of this is due to the weather or other factors that are beyond human control,” he said.

Mark Damato, senior vice president of retail sales at Peddler’s Son Produce, a Phoenix wholesaler, said that while prices are high, that doesn’t mean people have stopped buying limes or using them to cook.

“A restaurant has to have (limes) if they have a bar. Grocery chains don’t want to be without them,” he said. “It’s pretty much a staple item.”

Back at the Mission, tacos have also taken a hit. Rather than serving two lime slices with every taco, now it only serves one.